French jet 'shoots down Libyan war plane'

Allied forces reportedly shot down a Libyan warplane that took to the skies today in defiance of the no-fly zone over the country.

Ministry of Defence officials were urgently investigating reports this afternoon that French fighter jets attacked a Soko G-2 Galeb plane, pictured, over the besieged city of Misrata.

The news that Colonel Gaddafi's forces had tried to put planes into the sky came as Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs there were "no Libyan military aircraft flying" following five days of coalition air strikes.

Mr Hague also said the military action was relieving pressure on the port of Misrata as he insisted the case for continuing strikes was "utterly compelling". He dismissed the regime's claims that it had ordered a ceasefire as an "utter sham".

Colonel Gaddafi's forces have seized control of Misrata where thousands of foreign migrant workers have been stranded trying to flee Libya.Residents said tanks and loyalist troops were still active in the city despite allied air strikes.